Laverdista
Member
So... after a two-week delay since I got it home, brought about by a combination of terrible weather and a nasty bout of Covid, I finally took my newly-acquired Black Bomber for a 30 mile ride.
All OK (but see below) and overall, I enjoyed it! Below are some random thoughts/observations (in no particular order!):
Took me a few minutes to get used to the gearchange on the 'wrong side' (all my other bikes are right foot gearchange) but otherwise OK.
I was delayed in getting out the door, as for some reason the main fuse (glass fuse by battery) had blown. Have absolutely no why - Unless I had accidentally shorted something when fishing around in the headlight (had a quick look, as am going to fit an LED headlamp bulb). It had certainly been OK when I left it a couple of days ago. Anyway, unfortunately I didn't have any glass fuses to hand, so in order to get out the door I've temporarily swapped it for a blade fuseholder and fuse, which does at least have the advantage of being easy to replace should it blow again.
Really impressed with the brakes, although found the handling 'satisfactory' rather than 'great'. I think I might replace the tyres next Spring, as they look to be about 15 years old! I also wonder about putting the original shocks in a box for a future owner (nice as they look, and I know previous owner Chris Saxby spent a good while rebuilding them), and fitting a pair of Hagons instead, but I'm going to hang on for now until I get to know the bike better.
Although it wouldn't idle initially, it idled satisfactorily after my run, although I have tweaked it a tiny bit.
It sounds absolutely lovely, and picks up really well, although I don't feel ready to test the rev limit yet. My Laverda red lines at about 6k, so getting used to a bike with a red line at 9.5k will take some time.
Performance seems strong for a 450! I'm running B7ES's (as that was what was in there before, and I had some 'on the shelf', but will check the tip colour, and if necessary change to B8ES's.
The only downside at the moment is the clutch, which is horrible. It seems to be slipping, and I have very little clutch travel. I'll change down to first at a junction, and when I let the clutch out nothing seems to happen until near the top of the lever travel. I'm hoping it's not a case of new clutch, maybe just an adjustment issue.
And if I slow down for a junction (not stopping completely) and then go from first to second too early, it's not liking it - Getting a 'clunk' from the cush drive? Anyway, I think I'll look to sort the clutch out first and take it from there. It's a shame, because otherwise the bike feels really strong - No rattles, clonks or unwelcome noises. Chris had obviously done a nice job setting up the engine all those years ago.
Cheers,
James
All OK (but see below) and overall, I enjoyed it! Below are some random thoughts/observations (in no particular order!):
Took me a few minutes to get used to the gearchange on the 'wrong side' (all my other bikes are right foot gearchange) but otherwise OK.
I was delayed in getting out the door, as for some reason the main fuse (glass fuse by battery) had blown. Have absolutely no why - Unless I had accidentally shorted something when fishing around in the headlight (had a quick look, as am going to fit an LED headlamp bulb). It had certainly been OK when I left it a couple of days ago. Anyway, unfortunately I didn't have any glass fuses to hand, so in order to get out the door I've temporarily swapped it for a blade fuseholder and fuse, which does at least have the advantage of being easy to replace should it blow again.
Really impressed with the brakes, although found the handling 'satisfactory' rather than 'great'. I think I might replace the tyres next Spring, as they look to be about 15 years old! I also wonder about putting the original shocks in a box for a future owner (nice as they look, and I know previous owner Chris Saxby spent a good while rebuilding them), and fitting a pair of Hagons instead, but I'm going to hang on for now until I get to know the bike better.
Although it wouldn't idle initially, it idled satisfactorily after my run, although I have tweaked it a tiny bit.
It sounds absolutely lovely, and picks up really well, although I don't feel ready to test the rev limit yet. My Laverda red lines at about 6k, so getting used to a bike with a red line at 9.5k will take some time.
Performance seems strong for a 450! I'm running B7ES's (as that was what was in there before, and I had some 'on the shelf', but will check the tip colour, and if necessary change to B8ES's.
The only downside at the moment is the clutch, which is horrible. It seems to be slipping, and I have very little clutch travel. I'll change down to first at a junction, and when I let the clutch out nothing seems to happen until near the top of the lever travel. I'm hoping it's not a case of new clutch, maybe just an adjustment issue.
And if I slow down for a junction (not stopping completely) and then go from first to second too early, it's not liking it - Getting a 'clunk' from the cush drive? Anyway, I think I'll look to sort the clutch out first and take it from there. It's a shame, because otherwise the bike feels really strong - No rattles, clonks or unwelcome noises. Chris had obviously done a nice job setting up the engine all those years ago.
Cheers,
James